Gunners season shot down in flames by PSV's own goal 'hero'

Arsenal's season was in tatters last night after they were knocked out of the Champions League by a player who is owned by Premiership rivals Chelsea.

PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian defender Alex, on a season-long loan from Stamford Bridge, gave Arsene Wenger's side a lifeline at the Emirates Stadium with an own goal in the 58th minute but then headed the decisive equaliser seven minutes from time.

Arsenal — who lost the Carling Cup Final, were knocked out of the FA Cup and have now gone out of Europe all in the space of 11 days — will be without Thierry Henry for a month after he ripped stomach muscles shortly after coming on as a substitute.

They had lost the first leg in Holland 1-0 but were back in contention when Alex put through his own net following a corner.

The Brazilian made amends when he powered above the Arsenal defence to head their equaliser and spark a mass exodus from the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger said: "It's a disappointment but Alex won them the tie. He kept their defence tight and he dominated in the air. Chelsea have the money to buy the best players and I'm sure that Alex is not the only player they have in this situation.

"We had the chances to score but we didn't take them. I feel as though the games have caught up with us and we lacked sharpness and quality needed in the final third of the field.

"There is a lot of negativity after the last two weeks but I don't think reaching the final of the Carling Cup is a failure. But losing in the FA Cup is a minor issue compared to the Champions League.

"Tonight we played the game we wanted to play but we didn't take our chances. It's cruel."

Arsenal have 11 games to ensure qualification for the Champions League by finishing no lower than fourth in the Premiership but they will have to do it without their injury-plagued skipper.

Henry, who came on as a 66th-minute substitute to try to galvanise the Gunners, will have a scan today on a stomach strain but he is expected to miss at least another month.

Wenger added: "He was not ready physically to start the game and now he is injured again. He will be out for a few weeks because he has torn his stomach muscle and his groin.

"He will have a scan but it is fair to say it has been a very difficult season for him."

Alex's goal is a bitter pill to swallow for last season's beaten Champions League finalists and PSV coach Ronald Koeman confirmed their worst fears after the game when he confirmed that the defender is actually owned by Chelsea.

Koeman said: "He is a Chelsea player but we rent him.

"We know that other clubs use this kind of system and it is a little bit of business between the two clubs.

"He is PSV's player until the end of the season — he would play against Chelsea if we draw them in the quarter-finals — and he will talk to them at the end of the season about his situation.

"I think Chelsea will be happy he got the goal that knocked Arsenal out."